India takes a 2-0 lead

Australia captain Steve Smith lambasted his batsmen of “panicking” under pressure and demanded they show more starch after another collapse against India saw the side thrashed by 50 runs in the second One-Day International in Kolkata, on Thursday.

India set Australia 252 to chase at the Eden Gardens and defended it with ease as the tourists lost openers David Warner and Hilton Cartwright for one run apiece and crumbled with a hat-trick to left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

Cricket, China man lad to his credit the hat-trick from spinner Kuldeep Yadav brought in time laurels to Virat team. Kuldeep timely mind application to his bowling helped India beat Australia by 50 runs in the second One-Day International at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last evening.

Chasing India’s total of 252 for all out, the visitors were bundled out for 202 in 43.1 overs. Virat Kohli struck a magnificent 92 while Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav became the only Indian spinner to take a hat-trick in ODIs. The left-arm spinner returned figures of 3 for 54, taking the wickets of Mathew Wade, Ashton Agar and Pat Cummins off consecutive deliveries in the 33rd over, to become only the third Indian, after Chetan Sharma and Kapil Dev, to record the rare feat in ODI cricket.

Gautam Gambhir, Kuldeep’s captain at IPL team Kolkata Knight Riiders, was also ecstatic about the feat.

Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif was also effusive in praise of the spinner from his home state of Uttar Pradesh.

“Kuldeep Yadav is a rare & special talent. Delighted with his progress. Great hat-trick @imkuldeep18 & a wonderful victory for India.

Kapil Dev and Chetan Sharma were the other cricketers, who took hat-trick, were pacers. Bhuvnesh Kumar took three wickets while two wickets each were taken by Hardik Pandya and Yajuvendra Chahal.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar always knew how to swing the white ball, but now he feels more complete as a bowler with an ability to generate pace in the death overs.

The India pacer bowled an impressive first spell, comprising pace and swing, as he finished with brilliant figures of 6.1-2-9-3, including the wicket of the dangerous David Warner, in the second One-Day International at the Eden Gardens, in Kolkata, on Thursday, which India won by 50 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

“When I first came into the side, I needed conditions favouring swing bowling to flourish. A year after making my debut, I wanted to increase my pace, but I had no clue how to go about that,” admitted Bhuvneshwar, during the post-match news conference.

For Australia, medium pacers Nathan Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson bagged three wickets each. With this win, India have taken a 2-0 lead in the five-match series and also reclaimed No.1 spot in ODI rankings. Third ODI will be played in Indore on Sunday.